Harding-Jones Paper Company

The Harding-Jones Paper Company, located in Excello, Ohio, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Harding-Jones Paper Company Historic District. A significant, early example of Ohio industry, the mill was mostly owned by the Harding and Jones families for most of its operation. The mill, adjacent to the first lock completed on the Miami-Erie Canal, also includes two residences, a carriage house and a canal lock.1

A.E. Harding, founder of the Harding Paper Company, was born in England in 1829 to a family of paper makers and gained journeyman status before relocating to the United States in 1850.1 Harding worked for three years in paper mills in Massachusetts before migrating to Middletown to serve as foreman for its first paper mill. In 1865, Harding and his associates founded the Harding, Erwin & Company and constructed a paper mill just south of Middletown.1 Built near the first lock constructed on the adjoining Miami-Erie Canal, it was the first mill west of the Allegheny Mountains that manufactured fine writing paper. Raw materials and finished product came via the canal. The mill had a capacity of 2,500 pounds of paper daily. Due to the mill’s growing presence, Excello, named after a brand of paper the company produced, was formed as a company town in 1870.

To operate the laborious equipment, a Corliss steam engine was installed, followed by an Edison generator, which was just the fifth that was built by Edison.1 A rolling machine, which took pulp to finished product in one assembly line, was installed in 1897.

Excello Mills in 1865

A.E. Harding residence in 1895. Photograph by Ina Jones.

1955

A second mill in Franklin was built in 1872 and the partnership ceased between Harding and Erwin.1 The Harding Paper Company was then founded. In April 1885, A.E. Harding died and both mills were sold in 1898 to the American Writing Paper Company of Massachusetts, with both being managed by Thomas Jones, a son-in-law of A.E. Harding. The two mills were purchased by Jones in 1925, with Jones selling the Franklin mill shortly after.

The Excello operation was reorganized into the Harding-Jones Paper Company and became known for its custom watermarked fine writing paper.1 By the 1970’s, the mill had a capacity of 44,000 pounds of paper per day.

The Harding-Jones Paper Company was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Harding-Jones Paper Company Historic District in 1975. The factory was acquired by the Simpson Paper Company in 1983 and closed on April 30, 1990.1

19 Comments

Rosco ( Rock ) Ryder hired me to work there in 1961. He was a step son of Clarence Jones, who was the president at the time. He was the supervisor of the finish room. He later went into sales , and then left the company.

I own this old paper mill, I have tried to run 3 businesses out of this property and use profits to revitalize building.,The County refused to let me do so. I have applied for a demo permit to tear down portions of this property , I am currently trying to aquire funding for this project , any inquiries can be sent to timapw@sbcglobal.net

This is true of the Swans. The watermark was called Swan Linen a 100% rag content paper. Some customers required that some part of their water mark be changed every year, Very few people knew what was changed.
Thanks for the comments. Brings back a lot of memories.
Howard Lanier

I used to work on B&O railroad maintenance of way department at Hamilton from 1973-1989 and frequently worked on the railroad track adjacent to Harding-Jones property when they were in operation. The paper company had a swan pond in front of the mill where they kept a flock of signature white swans for years I believe used in company advertising. The swans were very territorial and fiercely defended their space on the pond. My railroad foreman George Burrgraf always told a story where a certain murder case was solved by the watermark on writing paper produced by Harding-Jones being an important clue in solving the the case.

Drove past for the first time today and had my camera, so I stopped. The roof has almost completely caved in now. I looked up “abandoned factory, Trenton, Ohio and was happy to find your page as one of the top hits. Thanks again for your work!

I worked at Champion Papers for 23 years. My parents also retired from there. Every time I pass this place I tell my fiance I would love to have one of these cupola’s. How can we go about getting one. My finace is a wood worker and would restore it and place on our newly built barn. I was meant to have this. PLEASE TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO. We will take it down ourselves. Please don’t destroy any of them

Connie ~ I drive by that factory every day to and from work. If you want one of those cupolas, you’d better hurry. One of them is literally lying flat and could go down any day. The other one could possibly be stable for another three or four weeks. Sadly the building is dying a slow death. I think the city of Middletown wants it to crumble on it’s own so they don’t have to pay to demo it :o(

I was born in Middletown and raised in Excello. Thank you very much for posting this story. I remember the mill but am seeking people who have memory of, and information about Gordon Park. As kids we roamed through the old home up on the hill and in the winter ice skated in the swimming pool on the property. I remember Dick’s Creek flooding in the spring and the water rising to Washington Street. We used to enter the park via a wooden style at the end of Ben Harrison Street.

It is very sad to see such a grand old building with a history such as this rot away. I worked at the mill from 1961 till 1982. Started out as paper handler in the finishing room, worked digging stock that furnished the beaters to air dryer operator, then to maintenance where I was a maintenance manager. While in maintenance I looked after the big house across the street doing repairs and keeping it clean. We also lived in two different Harding Jones houses. I admired a lot of people that worked there, but one of the best was Homer Gay. He was one of the best paper makers to have ever lived.

My name is Tom Sawyer and I am trying to reach the property owner of the former Harding jones paper mill in Middletown ,Ohio.
My family used to own and operate the mill until my grandfather passed away in the late 70’s. I have lots of history and documentation on the paper mill and I understand it is owned by an individual named Kerry -Johnston Gary ..?? My family also used to own the house on top of the hill across the street from the mill . I understand the mill is in very poor condition and I would like to speak to the owner about the facility. I can be reached at tsawyer17@gmail.com If you or anybody can get me in touch with the owner that would be greatly appreciated .

I drive past this place daily, and I think you might want to send out a photographer before this place crumbles to the ground. Both cupolas (sp) are tilting at almost 45 degrees and the roof below them are falling in, but as of 12/12/15 the roof is still up. If you pull this up on Google Maps street view, you can see the north tower leaning. 3586 South Main Street, Middletown Ohio, 45044. Thank you for this article, I am a fanatic of local history and especially things I can relate to and drive or walk by and see it.

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